10 Best Nursing Homes in Greenville, SC

Finding skilled care for seniors in Greenville requires family members to invest both time and finances. Here, you’ll find information about your options for payment. Some seniors and their families opt to use some public and some private funds to pay for senior care facilities. Personal savings, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and VA benefits are some of the most common sources. The tabs below will discuss private and public payment options.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Standards for Licensing Nursing Homes govern Greenville nursing home facilities. Assisted living and memory care facilities — referred to as community residential care facilities — fall under these guidelines for licensing. These long lists of rules and regulations cover everything from staffing and training requirements to expectations around resident care. Many of the regulations are the same across all types of facilities, such as the following:

• All staff must pass a criminal background check.
• Each facility must have a licensed administrator.
• Infection control training must be provided.
• Training in emergency preparedness must be provided.
• Records of accidents or any incidents must be kept and reported.
• Accurate and complete records must be kept on all residents.
• Individual care plans must be developed (within the first 21 days at a nursing home and within the first seven days at an assisted living or memory care facility).
• Transportation to health care or dental appointments must be provided for all residents.
• At least three nutritious meals must be provided daily.
• Drinking water and ice must be available at all times.
• Rules governing both internal and external housekeeping and cleaning standards must be followed.

Nursing home regulations involve more stringent requirements for staffing because medical personnel is required, unlike at standalone assisted living or memory care facilities. Nursing homes must have a medical director who is a doctor to coordinate the facility’s medical care. There are also rules around the number of licensed nurses required to be on staff.

All facilities must also adhere to the South Carolina Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities. The South Carolina Omnibus Adult Protection Act is also in place as another layer of protection for seniors from abuse or neglect.

All facilities must be inspected in order to obtain their license. DHEC will drop in unannounced to ensure compliance with regulations. Reports from these inspections can be found online. Downloadable PDFs of the inspection reports are available by searching a facility name or by toggling on the map view.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control contact information

2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-898-3432
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Greenville nursing home facilities

There are no Greenville COVID-19 mandates in place. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control requires visitation to be allowed but also expects facilities to do a good job of taking precautions. These federal guidelines were recently updated for nursing homes.

It’s not easy to pick the right senior care facility for a loved one. However, seniors in Greenville have a variety of top-notch options that offer both great care and fabulous amenities.

Options for care

Residents of senior care facilities can expect 24/7 medical care. Some of our partner facilities offer skilled nursing. For the facilities that don’t, medication management and other types of specialized care are standard — such as incontinence and diabetic care.

If your loved one wants to live in an assisted living facility, we partner with two standalone facilities in Greenville. There are four partner standalone memory care facilities in Greenville if your loved one needs that type of care. And aging-in-place options are plentiful, too, with an additional 14 options that offer a combination of types of care in one facility — including assisted living, memory care, and independent living.

Special care for memory loss

If your loved one needs care for memory loss, you can rest assured they’ll be in good hands with staff members who have been specially trained. Safety is of the utmost importance in our partner memory care facilities, so a staff member will always be awake and available, no matter the time of day. Many memory care facilities have wander management systems and personal alarms in place, which provides your loved one with freedom to explore within a safe area — and gives you peace of mind. Enclosed courtyards are an important safety feature of most facilities so residents can safely get outside and enjoy some fresh air.

Plenty to do

Thanks to on-staff activity directors, senior care facilities always have an event calendar full of engaging options — so there’s never a dull moment! Facilities host a wide variety of activities, from devotional services and live performances to chair yoga and happy hours. In common areas, these facilities host celebrations for holidays and residents’ birthdays. Libraries, movie rooms, game rooms, and arts-and-crafts spaces provide plenty of environments for relaxing, socializing, and having fun.

Meal service

Delicious meals are prepared for residents and served in a comfortable restaurant-style setting. Special diets can be accommodated, from low-sugar to low-sodium to gluten-free and everything in between. Private dining rooms can often be provided if you and your loved one would like to dine together during a visit.

The health care system in Greenville is also the area’s largest employer.^[06] With multiple locations, there are great options that have your loved one’s health care needs covered.

While all of our partner facilities provide transportation to appointments, visiting family and friends have options, too.

Walking around in Greenville — unless you’re downtown — isn’t easy.^[08] But you can use Greenlink, the city bus system, which has 11 fixed routes and offers wheelchair accessibility. Ride-hailing services, such as Lyft or Uber, are also an option.

Activities are plentiful at our partner senior care facilities, but sometimes a special outing with a loved one is a welcome treat for residents. Falls Park on the Reedy, the heart of Greenville, features a suspension bridge and waterfalls. Swamp Rabbit Trail is another great spot for getting some fresh air. There is a mile-long paved section that makes an outing in a wheelchair or scooter especially easy. You can also check out the animals at the nearby Greenville Zoo.

For those who appreciate fine arts, the Greenville County Museum of Art would be a relaxing stop. It boasts an Andrew Wyeth watercolor collection and paintings by contemporary artist Jasper Johns. Walking canes and wheelchairs are available for visitor use. If you or your loved one are visually impaired, you can call ahead to request a special tour.

The Peace Center is a great accessible location that features performing arts. Patron assistance services can be reserved in advance, which include curbside drop-off. If you let the center know ahead of time, a service animal is also welcome. Sign language interpreters and helpful assisted listening devices can also be requested.

History buffs would enjoy a trip to the Upcountry History Museum or a drive to see the 13 African-American cultural sites in the area.